Issue #003

💡 Insight

After 15 years of observation, I’m convinced the definition of a “Vacation for REALTORS®” is this:

Responding to real estate messages in a warmer climate than home—ideally with a blended drink in hand.

Don’t believe me? Alrighty, Hasselhoff.​

When was the last time you went to the beach without your phone—for a full day, let alone a full trip?

Yeah. I thought so.

And listen, I’m not judging—I used to be the always-reachable REALTOR®, whether I was on a quick afternoon break or a two-week getaway I was taking calls.

If you're reading this while on vacation right now, first: good on you for taking a physical break. But also: consider taking a mental one, too.

Psychologists call it psychological detachment from work. I call it your secret weapon.

Because when you truly unplug—even briefly—you return with more energy, sharper thinking, and a stronger ability to crush your goals.

Now what if I told you that freedom from your phone...

...could actually come from another phone?

🛠️ Resource

Long used by CIA agents, Organized Crime, and Batman — REALTORS® now have a viable use case for a secret phone number.

No need to go full monk and swear off tech entirely. Instead, swap your “main phone” for a simpler, less app-heavy device that keeps you just connected enough—without sucking you back into work emails, texts, or DMs.

From one-hour breathers (Spotify still intact) to full-blown two-week vacations (with Google Maps for navigating wine country), these little backup phones are game-changers.

And I’m speaking from experience.

This spring, I left my main phone at home for two full weeks.

In this YouTube video, I break down what I did, what I learned, and how it changed my relationship with work.

Here’s what was on that burner phone:

• A phone number nobody knew (for restaurant calls)
• WhatsApp (to chat with local vendors)
• Personal Gmail (not my work account)
• Safari (I use Chrome for work—this felt separate)
• AirBNB & OpenTable (logistics, not distractions)
• The Score (because, obviously, sports)

And here’s what wasn’t on it:

• Work phone or email
• News
• Social media (including my fave: YouTube)

I wasn’t off the grid—I was just off the grind.

✅ Action

Want to try it? Here's your three-step Burner Phone Starter Pack™:

1. Search Facebook Marketplace for older iPhones—some are basically free.
2. Choose a cheap data plan. At home, I love Fizz for its price point and roll-over data. For travel, Holafly’s great (but explore your options).
3. Only install essentials—no work stuff, no “scrolling apps” (aka social media). Stick to music, maps, and money apps. Bonus points for alliteration, am I right?

And now… the grand finale:

Leave your work phone at home.

Take your burner.

Go for a walk with someone you love.

Or take yourself out to your favourite restaurant.

Worried about getting a flat tire?

Batman’s got BCAA on speed dial.

Here’s to giving yourself the gift of your presence in the last real month of summer.

If you do venture out phone free, I’d love to know what you got up to and how was your experience!

In Your Corner,

Coach B

P.S. This coming weekend, some of our dearest friends are visiting us here in Victoria. We don’t get to see them as often as we’d like, so you better believe this time together is precious, and we want to be fully present for it. We’re doing the whole “tourist in our hometown” thing—staying at a hotel downtown, exploring the city like it’s our first time.

So yes, I’ll be leaving my main phone at home over the August long weekend. But don’t worry—I’ll have the burner on me.If you need to reach me, you can call or text: xxx-xxx-xxxx 😉

Braden Wheatcroft 👋

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